OEM’s Checklist for Enclosure Air Conditioner Compatibility

OEMs_Checklist_for_Enclosure_Air_Conditioner_CompatibilityWhen designing an electrical enclosure for one of your customers, it is important to ensure that the air conditioner you select is compatible with the system. Multiple factors must be taken into consideration to do this properly. Working closely with both your customer and your enclosure air conditioner supplier is the best way to ensure that the cooling system is properly sized, suitable for the surrounding environment, and fits within the space allotted.

Use this checklist to make sure you evaluate all of the factors that influence enclosure air conditioner selection.

OEM Enclosure Air Conditioner Checklist

  • NEMA rating – Based on the surrounding environment, determine what NEMA type the enclosure will be and make sure the air conditioner matches this. Integrating a cooling system with the wrong NEMA rating can result in contamination from airborne particles, liquid entering the enclosure, or hazardous materials coming in contact with the components inside.
  • Cooling capacity – Work closely with your suppliers to determine the correct heat load and calculate the required cooling capacity using an enclosure BTUH calculator. Remember that enclosures of the same size might have different cooling needs based on the equipment inside and the surrounding environment. Your customers rely on you to deliver dependable equipment. If the cooling system is too large or too small, it could lead to electrical component damage or premature equipment failure.
  • Equipment size – The physical size of the enclosure air conditioner is also a factor when selecting a compatible cooling system. Try to keep the width of the air conditioner from mandating the depth of the enclosure.  Work with your supplier to select an air conditioner with standard, compact, or narrow dimensions as necessary.
  • Options and accessories – Some applications have special needs that a standard enclosure air conditioner cannot accommodate. For example, you might need an integrated heater if cold temperatures are expected; environments with excessive dust may require an extended capacity filter ; or you might need to design an enclosure for an environment with severe vibration. Work with your supplier to determine which options and accessories make sense for the application and share as much detail as you can about the end-user’s environment.

Thermal Edge is committed to helping OEM partners deliver electrical enclosures with reliable cooling systems. We will work closely with you to ensure that all aspects of the system are compatible with the enclosure, the electrical components, and the particular application. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.